Membership is open to all over the age of 9, School Year 5, male or female, although if you are under 11, it may be difficult to find regular competition.

Annual subscriptions are due on 1st January each year, and vary depending on age and type of membership.

Reduced subscription rates apply for new members joining in the second half of the year.

HEADQUARTERS AND TRAINING

Our Headquarters are in Grange House Field, Mitford Road, Morpeth, NE61 1RJ and our main training sessions are from there.

SUNDAYS: Long runs for over 16s - 9am for speedsters, 10am at a more leisurely pace

MONDAYS: 7.15pm for 7.30pm start. All age groups and abilities.Best time for new starters

All athletes are allocated to a coach or Group Leader.

WEDNESDAYS: About 6.30pm. Senior JoggersIf you need more information on whats available for your event or area then ask one of the Club Officers or Coaches - Monday evening is the best time to come and enquire.

Please let your Coach or Group Leader know if you have any health problems. We particularly need to know if you`re asthmatic, suffer from diabetes, have any allergies or any hearing difficulties.

Any young athlete (or parent) concerned about any aspect of the coaching they are receiving should raise the matter immediately with any Club Officer (see section 7).

The club has a policy on the "Welfare of Athletes" - copies available on request.

COMPETITION AND TRANSPORT

We are primarily a competitive Athletics Club and we encourage everyone to compete. There are plenty of opportunities whatever your standard or age. If you`re not sure about competing, have a word with the Coach or Group Leader.

Events are usually held on Saturday or Sunday afternoons and, in the summer, on midweek evenings, mainly Wednesdays. For many events all you need to do to enter is sign the list on the Clubhouse notice-board, although for some of those further afield or with expensive entry fees, you will have to arrange to enter youself.

In many cases the Club pays the entry fees - it depends on the level of subscription you have paid.

For League and Championship events where we are limited as to the number in the team, members will be advised of their selection by the Team Manager.

Travelling to local events is your own responsibility although lifts can often be arranged with other members.

For those events where a large team is competing some distance away, we usually arrange a coach or minibus. We try to keep fares low, making it important that as many as possible use the bus, otherwise the Club makes a big loss.

The Club subsidises travelling expenses for major events - usually Championships or League matches.

KIT

For competition you will need a Club vest which can be bought through the Club (see below). As well as trainers you will also need shorts (preferably blue or white), and a tracksuit. You MUST also have a WHITE OR REFLECTIVE TOP, for training on the roads with Club groups in the hours of darkness.

If you`re going to race on the track or at cross-country you`ll need spikes.

Seek advice if you need help in choosing kit. Several shops will give discounts to Club members - just show your membership slip.

Club vests can be obtained from Tony Ward or George Patterson (see telephone nos. below)

Always take along a dry change of clothes with you, whether you`re competing or just training.

OUR COMPETITIVE ACHIEVEMENTS

We are one of the top all-round Athletic Clubs in the North of England and we are probably the strongest in the North East. Our Cross Country and Road Running squads compete in most major events and we have won many titles and medals (both team and individual) at Northern and National Championships.

In 1998 and 1999 we represented England in the European Clubs Road Race Championships, finishing 5th and 4th respectively.

We also provide good quality Track and Field competition. Our Senior Mens A and `B` teams and Womens team all compete in the North of England Leagues and our young athletes take part in the Northern Region of the National Young Athletes League.

We don`t just cater for the elite though. Everyone is encouraged to compete regularly, whether in local road races (including the famous Morpeth to Newcastle Race in January), Harrier League cross country races or North Eastern Athletics League meetings.

Members can also take part in Fell Running and Orienteering events.

FINANCE

Even though we are one of the top clubs in the country we have to finance ourselves. We get some welcome help from Sponsorship but otherwise we rely on subscriptions being paid promptly and on raffles, races and other fund-raising events to bring in the money we need for equipment, facilities and travel to events.

We`ll be expecting you to play your part.

TRAVEL DIRECTIONS

To get to the Clubhouse, come off the A1 North signposted Morpeth A197. Follow the signs into the town centre, go over the bridge and take a left at the mini-roundabout. Follow the road through the town centre and up the hill through a set of traffic lights until you see a signpost directing you left on to the B6343 Mitford Road, follow the road down the hill for 500 metres and our clubhouse is on your right hand side on Grange House Field.For SatNav Users the postcode is NE61 1RJ

CLUB ORGANISATION

The Officers and Committee are elected each year at our AGM, normally held in March.

At present the Officers are:

President: Jim Alder

Chairman: Bill Woods

Vice-Chairman: Doug Cockburn

Treasurer: Mark Hudspith

Secretary: Mike Bateman

Some other useful contacts:

Senior Men:

David Swinburne 01670716055

Membership Secretary:

Hudson Stoker 07802424838

Press Officer

George Patterson 01670734295

Women and Young Athletes

Tony Ward 01670516891 and

Mike Bateman 01670712228

MEDIA

The clubs activities and achievments are regularly reported every week in the Morpeth Herald,out every Thursday.

The club also is regularly featured in Athletics reports in The Journal and Evening Chronicle both local North East newspapers.